Series Description

Microfilm copies of bill files are available for the years 1981-1988 where indicated with
MF before the LP number.

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bills relating to human and social services including welfare issues, the foster care system, general child-care, In-Home
Support Services, and homelessness are generally referred to the Assembly Human Services Committee for analysis. Most bill
files include all or some of the following items: bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony,
press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence, roll calls, records of votes, and committee statements. Some of the more
significant bills included legislation on Guide Dogs for the disabled (AB567, 1991-1992). The committee also saw numerous
bills on Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and one that drew considerable public interest was AB1XXXX
(1995-1996). This bill dealt specifically with cuts to the AFDC program in order to comply with new federal guidelines to
welfare programs. Another bill that drew significant public interest was AB373 (1999-2000) that sought to expand the Lanterman
Developmental Center in Southern California and then to transfer developmentally disabled forensic or severe behavior patients
to the center.

Hearing files may contain agendas, audiocassette tape recordings of hearings, transcripts, testimony, background reports,
and working files for regular session hearings, interim hearings, and some joint hearings. Audiocassette tapes have been moved
to a cold-storage vault for preservation purposes and separation sheets are in the appropriate files to alert the researcher
to the existence of such tapes.

When complete, hearings files can provide in-depth analysis of issues of concern to the committee and California's human services
issues. The committee often held joint hearings with the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. While many hearings
were on various bills pertaining to the committee, there were numerous hearings on topics ranging from residential care facilities
to issues of the foster care system to general welfare reform deliberations. The hearings with specific subjects encompassed
numerous topics including welfare issues, the foster care system, general child-care, In-Home Support Services, and homelessness.

For a list of hearing dates and topics, see Appendix A in master finding aid at the California State Archives.

Welfare Reform Deliberation Files contain studies, correspondence with county agencies and interest groups, press clippings,
and reports that concern the debate over welfare reform in California. The push for welfare reform came as a result of the
federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 which eliminated Aid to Families with Dependent
Children (AFDC). AFDC was renamed Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and now had work requirements and time limits
on welfare. States would now only receive block grants of aid instead of receiving matching funds based on caseloads. As a
result, California had to undergo numerous reforms to the system in order to adhere to the new federal system put in place.
Included is a hearing conducted by the Attorney General on disability. The hearing took place on May 25, 26, and 30 as well
as September 9, 1988.

For a list of Welfare Reform Deliberation headings, see Appendix B in master finding aid at the California State Archives.